First Step Towards An Accessible Pandan Perdana

YB Yap Soo Sun on a walkabout at Pandan Perdana

The ADUN for Teratai YB Yap Soo Sun, Bendahari Kelab Sukan Komuniti Dun Teratai En. Mohd. Aznam Mohd. Zain, fellow advocate Wang Siew Ming and I went on a walkabout around Pandan Perdana just now. I had copied 2 complaint mails to YB Yap regarding the lamp post in the middle of the walkway that caused Wuan and I to fall onto the road in May last year. Read this, this and this for context.

Wang and I went to see YB Yap in May to follow up with the issue as it was still not resolved one year later. The offending lamp post has since been relocated. Additionally, we proposed to YB Yap to upgrade the commonly used stretch of walkways in Pandan Perdana into an accessible one as this will not only benefit disabled persons but senior citizens, pregnant women and adults with prams as well.

YB Yap Soo Sun on a walkabout at Pandan Perdana

Apart from the walkways, YB Yap has also agreed to build a ramp at the 7-11 store and another at the Hong Leong Bank. He informed us that his application for a grant for this purpose had just been approved. We presented him with a copy of the Malaysian Standard 1331 (1993) Code of Practice for Access for Disabled People Outside Buildings to ensure that the renovations were properly done.

This is a positive development in the advocacy campaign on accessibility. In time, I hope that the entire Pandan Perdana will be fully accessible and eventually all the areas under the jurisdiction of Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya. I look forward to the day when I can move around conveniently around this area without having to risk life and limb.

Peter Tan Objects To Sending The 2nd Malaysian Astronaut Into Space

As a citizen of Malaysia, I hereby object to the suggestion to send the second astronaut into space at the cost of US$30mil (RM102mil) as reported by The Star (Normal to pick space crew at the last minute, says JJ – Tuesday September 25, 2007).

“If Malaysians want him to be sent to space too, I will raise the matter up with the Cabinet. He is after all, ready and able.

He added that the cost of sending the second Malaysian astronaut was estimated to be US$30mil (RM102mil).

This amount can be better used to improve the lives of thousands, if not millions, of our fellow Malaysians. I speak from the viewpoint of a disabled person. This money can be utilised to make the environment and public transport accessible, and support people with severe disabilities who are practicing independent living. These include providing funds for personal assistants and other support services. RM102mil is a lot of money and it should be used judiciously to benefit the most number of people.

For starters, the people at RapidKL kept saying that they do not have the money to make the public transport system under their management accessible. This RM102mil can go a log way towards achieving that. I have spoken to the State Assemblyman for Teratai YB Yap Soo Sun who said that Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya does not have the funds to upgrade the walkways in Pandan Perdana into accessible ones because of the shortage of funds. RM102mil can do wonders to make all the walkways accessible. These are two examples how the RM102mil can be better spent. Why look so far away into outer space when things that are right before our eyes still need a lot of money and work? Lets get the priorities right here.

Related entry:
Malaysian Going To Outer Space, Disabled Persons Still Stuck At Home

Second Complaint Letter To MPAJ Regarding Inaccessible Pandan Perdana

It is absolutely disappointing that Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) never responded to my complaint regarding the inaccessible and dangerous walkways around Pandan Perdana. This was despite a letter from the Jabatan Kerajaan Tempatan (Department of Local Government) urging them to respond to my letter of complaint.

To pursue the case further, I have sent a second letter of complaint to MPAJ and copied it to the Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Setiausaha Kerajaan Selangor (Cawangan Kerajaan Tempatan), Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, Jabatan Kerajaan Tempatan, Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga n Masyarakat, Pengarah Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, ADUN for Teratai and Presiden Persatuan Orang-Orang Cacat Anggota Malaysia. A while ago, I personally handed this letter to ADUN for Teratai YB Yap Soo Soon who has agreed to look into this matter.

Rujukan JKT: KPKT(02)(S)927/5 klt. 49(80)

18 April 2007

Yang Dipertua
Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya
Menara MPAJ
Jalan Pandan Utama
55100 Pandan Indah
Kuala Lumpur

INACCESSIBLE, DAMAGED AND OBSTRUCTED WALKWAYS AT PANDAN PERDANA A DANGER TO WHEELCHAIR USERS AND PEDESTRIANS

Dengan hormatnya saya merujuk kepada surat aduan saya yang bertarikh 28 Mei 2006 dan surat dari Pengarah Jabatan Kerajaan Tempatan kepada Yang Dipertua Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya yang bertarikh 27 Julai 2006.

2. Saya teramat kecewa dengan sikap MPAJ yang tidak mengendahkan aduan saya serta surat dari pihak Jabatan Kerajaan Tempatan mengenai perkara di atas. Sudah 10 bulan semenjak surat aduan tersebut tetapi MPAJ masih belum lagi memberi sebarang maklumbalas ataupun mengambil tindakan yang nyata.

3. Sebarang alas an yang akan diberi oleh pihak MPAJ atas kelekaannya tidak dapat diterima. Saya terpaksa menggunakan kerusi roda saya di atas jalan raya setiap kali saya hendak pergi ke kedai-kedai yang berdekatan sebab laluan pejalan kaki di Pandan Perdana tidak sesuai untuk digunakan oleh OKU. Sebahagian besar daripada laluan pejalan kaki sudah rosak dan terdapat tiang lampu yang didirikan di tengah-tengah laluan pejalan kaki (aduan surat saya yang bertarikh 28 Mei 206), menjadikan laluan itu terlalu sempit untuk kegunaan saya. Setiap kali saya menggunakan jalan raya dengan kerusi roda, saya berdoa agar tidak dilanggar oleh kenderaan di jalan raya yang sibuk itu.

4. Kenapa OKU mesti menggadai nyawa mereka setiap kali mereka hendak pergi ke mana-mana? Bukankah tanggungjawab MPAJ untuk menyediakan dan memperbaiki kemudahan-kemudahan awam dalam daerah kawalannya termasuk mewujudkan persekitaran yang mesra? Apakah gunanya Undang-Undang Kecil 34A Undang-Undang Kecil Bangunan Seragam 1986 yang telah diwartakan sekiranya MPAJ tidak bersungguh-sungguh untuk menguatkuasakannya?

5. Persekitaran yang mesra OKU bukan sahaja memanfaatkan golongan OKU. Malah persekitaran ini juga memanfaatkan warga emas, ibu mengandung dan mereka yang mengalami kesulitan pergerakan (mobility impairment). Pada amnya persekitaran mesra OKU adalah satu cara utama untuk memastikan golongan yang mempunyai kesulitan pergerakan tidak tersisir dari arus pembangunan negara dan menjaminkan mereka dapat turut serta dalam segala aktiviti masyarakat.

6. Saya berharap Tuan Yang Dipertua akan mengambil berat tentang aduan ini dan mengambil tindakan yang sepatutnya dengan secepat mungkin untuk mengelakkan perkara yang berlaku kepada saya dari berulang lagi atau mengelakkan kemalangan yang melibatkan kecederaan serius atau kehilangan nyawa dari berlaku. Perhatian Tuan dalam perkara ini amat dihargai dan didahului dengan ucapan terima kasih.

Sekian.